Method and apparatus for simultaneous application of surface treatment of vehicle components

Abstract

A method and apparatus for simultaneous application of surface treatment of components such as vehicle components is provided. A plurality of components is affixed via at least one bracket having at least one lifting attachment point, in a manner such that each of the plurality of components does not touch another component of the plurality of components.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for securing components for simultaneous surface treatment, comprising:
 a plurality of vehicle components;   at least one bracket attached to each of the plurality of vehicle components so that each of the plurality of vehicle components is spaced apart from each other vehicle component of the plurality of vehicle components and so that none of the vehicle components of the plurality of vehicle components touch each other; and   a plurality of spacers respectively disposed between the plurality of vehicle components and the at least one bracket,   wherein the plurality of spacers have different lengths with respect to each other, so that the spacers dispose the plurality of vehicle components in at least two different distances from the at least one bracket, and   wherein the at least one bracket defines a least one aperture configured to receive a lifting connector.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , wherein the vehicle components are semi-trailer rear frames. 
     
     
         3 . A method for preparing a plurality of components for simultaneous surface treatment comprising:
 spacing the components of the plurality of components so that no component of the plurality of components touches another component of the plurality of components;   providing at least one bracket having a plurality of first apertures at which the components are selectively attachable to the at least one bracket and attaching the plurality of components to the at least one bracket so that each component of the plurality of components is spaced apart from each other component of the plurality of components in a first direction, wherein the at least one bracket has at least one second aperture configured to receive a lifting connector;   disposing respective spacers between the components of the plurality of components and the at least one bracket so that the components of the plurality of components are spaced from the at least one bracket in a second direction that is orthogonal to the first direction; and   securing the attached plurality of components at the at least one second aperture and inserting the attached plurality of components, while supported at the at least one second aperture, into a surface treatment bath.   
     
     
         4 . The method as in  claim 3 , comprising attaching the plurality of components to the at least one bracket by threaded hardware extending through the spacers. 
     
     
         5 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein, in the disposing step, at least two of the spacers have different lengths with respect to each other. 
     
     
         6 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein, in the providing step, the at least one bracket comprises an angle member. 
     
     
         7 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein, in the providing step, the at least one second aperture is defined by a respective eye hook. 
     
     
         8 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein, in the inserting step, the surface treatment bath is a component of at least one of a galvanizing, a powder coating, an e-coating, and a plating process. 
     
     
         9 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein:
 the providing step comprises providing two first said brackets and two second said brackets above the first brackets, wherein each of the two second brackets define two said second apertures, and   the attaching step comprises:
 attaching the two second brackets to respective opposing sides of the components of the plurality of components, and 
 attaching the two first brackets to respective opposing sides of the components of the plurality of components. 
   
     
     
         10 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein the components of the plurality of components are vehicle components. 
     
     
         11 . The method as in  claim 10 , wherein the vehicle components are rear frames of a semi-trailer. 
     
     
         12 . The method as in  claim 3 , wherein, at the providing step, the plurality of first apertures comprises a first vertically aligned pair of said first apertures and a second vertically aligned pair of said first apertures, wherein the first pair of first apertures is vertically offset from the second pair of first apertures. 
     
     
         13 . A method for simultaneous surface treatment of a plurality of vehicle components, comprising:
 arranging a plurality of vehicle components into an arrangement;   rigidly attaching at least one bracket to each said vehicle component in the arrangement so that each of the plurality of vehicle components is in a fixed position with respect to, and does not touch, each other vehicle component of the plurality of vehicle components;   lifting the arrangement via the at least one bracket and, while supporting the arrangement via the at least one bracket, transporting the arrangement to a surface treatment bath; and   while supporting the arrangement via the at least one bracket, inserting the arrangement into the surface treatment bath.   
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein, at the rigidly attaching step, the at least one bracket has a plurality of first apertures at which the vehicle components of the plurality of vehicle components are selectively attachable to the at least one bracket. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 14 , wherein, at the rigidly attaching step, the at least one bracket has at least one second aperture configured to receive a lifting connector and wherein the lifting connector is attached to the at least one second aperture at the lifting step and during the transporting step. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein
 the vehicle components of the plurality of vehicle components have a common geometry,   at the rigidly attaching step, the vehicle components of the plurality of vehicle components are attached to the at least one bracket so that two vehicle components of at least one pair of adjacent vehicle components of the plurality of vehicle components are offset with respect to each other in at least one first dimension that is perpendicular to a second dimension, and   each vehicle component of the plurality of vehicle components is spaced from each other vehicle component of the plurality of vehicle components in the second dimension.   
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 16 , wherein, at the rigidly attaching step, the vehicle components of the plurality of vehicle components are attached to the at least one bracket so that the plurality of vehicle components define a plurality of said pairs of adjacent vehicle components. 
     
     
         18 . The method as in  claim 16 , comprising disposing respective spacers between the vehicle components of the plurality of vehicle components and the at least one bracket so that the vehicle components are spaced from the at least one bracket in the second dimension. 
     
     
         19 . The method as in  claim 18 , wherein, in the disposing step, at least two of the respective spacers have different lengths with respect to each other.